By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME: The 11th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (6-3/4-1 BSC) begin a two-game road trip, playing the pre-season league favorite #5-Eastern Washington Eagles (5-1/8-2) in a match-up which features two of the six Big Sky Conference teams with just one league loss so far this season, on Saturday, Nov. 8. Kickoff in Roos Field (8,600) in Cheney, Wash., is at 1:10 p.m. (Mountain).
SERIES/LAST MEETING: The Griz lead 26-13-1, but the Eagles have won three of the last four contests The Griz lead 11-7 in Cheney. (Year-by-year scores on add 24 of weekly release).
GRIZ LAST GAME: ( at Montana 31, Sac State 13): The number one defense was outstanding and halfback Jordan Canada rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Grizzlies.
GRIZ POW NOMINEES VS. SAC STATE: Offense: Canada, a senior from Duarte, Calif., had 12 carries for 109 yards and TD runs of 1 and 68 yards. Defense: Junior linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren from Bellevue, Wash., who had 9 tackles and an interception. Special Teams: junior P/K Chris Lider also from Bellevue, Wash., who had two of three punts inside the 20-yard line, and six kickoffs with two touchbacks.
LAST YEAR: (EWU 42, at Montana 37): Sophomore quarterback Vernon Adams was 27-of-40-2 passing for 457 yards and 6 touchdowns to lead the Eagles. EWU scored on six of its first 10 possessions, and Adams’ sixth TD throw gave the Eagles a 25-point (42-17) lead late in the third quarter.
RANKED AGAIN: The 2014 meeting will be the 13th time in the last 19 meetings that both Montana and EWU will enter the game nationally ranked.
JOHNSON STATS UPDATE: Johnson remains third in career touchdown throws at Montana with 65. He is fifth in career passing yards with 7,292.
CANADA STATS UPDATE: Canada is ranked fourth in career rushing yards (2,886) and he’s also fourth in career scoring runs (35).
WAGENMANN UPDATE: Wagenmann is now third in career sacks in school history with 30.5, and he’s tied for fourth in career tackles for loss with 44.
HERMANSON STATS UPDATE: Hermanson remains 7th in career tackles with 311.
PAYTON WATCH LIST UPDATE: Johnson, a 6-1, 195-pound senior from Eugene, Ore., and a preseason Walter Payton Award candidate, is 122-of-214-2 for 1,461 yards passing and 11 TD throws, and has rushed for two score so far this season.
BUCHANAN WATCH LIST UPDATE: Wagenmann, a 6-3 ½, 255-pound senior defensive end and Buck Buchanan Award candidate from Missoula, Mont., has 51 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 14.5 TFLs this season. He currently leads the Big Sky and is ranked sixth in the FCS in sacks (1.17 pg) and is ranked 19th in tackles for loss (1.6 pg).
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MEDIA COVERAGE:
GRIZ RADIO: Mick Holien has been the voice of Grizzly football the past 22-plus seasons and is in his 30th year overall. Scott Gurnsey is in his 17th year as analyst, and Greg Sundberg is on the sidelines for his fourth season. (Radio Network on add 6).
TELEVISION/STREAMING: The game is on ROOT Sports, with Tom Glasgow calling the play-by-play, Jason Stiles is the analyst, and Jen Mueller is the sideline reporter. It can been seen on DirecTV channel 687; Dish channel 426; and Bresnan channels 560/60. The game will not be streamed.